Session: 04-35: Combustion Modeling III

Paper Number: 78581

78581 - Development of an Open-Source Autonomous CFD Meta-Modeling Environment for Small-Scale Combustor Optimization – Part I 

This work presents an open-source autonomous CFD meta-modeling environment (OpenACME) for small-scale combustor design optimization in a deterministic and continuous design space. OpenACME couples several object-oriented programming (OOP) open-source codes for CFD-assisted engineering design meta-modeling. Steady, incompressible, three-dimensional simulations are performed using a multi-phase k-w SST RANS and “frozen” non-adiabatic flamelet progress variable (FFPV) combustion model. Conjugate heat transfer through the combustor liner is also considered. There are fifteen design variables. Non-parametric rank regression (NPRR), global sensitivity analyses (GSA), and single-objective (SOO) optimization strategies are evaluated. The Euclidean distance (single-objective criterion) between a design point and the utopic point is based on the multi-objective criteria: combustion efficiency (eta) maximization and pattern factor (PF), critical liner area factor (A_critical), and total pressure loss (TPL) minimization. The SOO approach conducts LHS for reacting flow CFD for subsequent local constraint optimization by linear interpolation (COBYLA). The local optimization successfully improves the initial design condition. The SOO approach is useful for guiding the design and development of future gas turbine combustors. NPRR and GSA indicate that there are no leading-order design variables controlling eta, PF, and A_critical. Therefore, interactions between design variables control these output metrics because the output design space is inherently non-smooth and nonlinear. In summary, OpenACME is developed and demonstrated to be a viable tool for combustor design meta-modeling and optimization studies.

Presenting Author: Alejandro Briones University of Dayton Research Institute

Presenting Author Biography: He has more than fourteen years of experience in modeling, simulation, and optimization of gas turbine engine combustors. His areas of interests include combustion physics, multiphase flows, conjugate heat transfer, and optimization. He is currently a Senior Research Engineer for the University of Dayton Research Institute.

Authors:

Alejandro Briones University of Dayton Research Institute
Brent Rankin Air Force Research Laboratory